Railway switch operating apparatus



Aug. s, 1.939.

H. l.. BONE 2,168,790

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS `Filed Nov. 27, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 HAS' ATTORNEY Aug' 8, 1939- H. L. BONE 2,168,790

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Novl 27, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m \54) FT 29 214 i 28 l 52 :IH 50 I I a l I |l| 55 Hl j a 24 30 25 I P M .9???5 @y l 532:12@ :2 125 l;

- 7 g I I f 6 64 I I (if l, 6 i 12 L Hfs ATTORNEY.

Aug 8, 1939 H. BONE A 2,168,790

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 27, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 J6 'o M 40 41 56' 44 J6 '42 IIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIH 45 45 48 58 N R 60a Her l V 2330128 Fly 6. BY

HIS' ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 8, 1939 RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Herbert L. Bone, Forest Hills, Pa., assigner toy The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November '27, 1937, Serial No. 176,837

23, Claims.

My invention relates to railway switch operating apparatus, and particularly to apparatus for operating spring switches.

One object of my invention is to provide means which, when a train trails a spring switch, becomes effective to force the movable rails of the switch to, and hold them in, positions opposite to their initially set positions until after the train has completely passed the switch, whereupon the movable rails are permitted to return to their initially set positions. 1

Another object of my invention is to provide means of the type described which will not interiere in any Way with manual operation of the switch. l Y

A further object of my invention is to provide means of the type described which is adapted to function in connection with a mechanical facing point lock ofthe type in which the flexure of .the switch rails is used to actuate the lock to its unlocking position when av train trails the switch, and which employs for its" actuation a part of the lock releasing linkage. Y

Other' objects and characteristic features of my invention will appear as the description proceeds. g

I shall describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims. y

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing a railway switch provided with one form of switch operating mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View, partly in section, of theoperating mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa sectional view taken substantially on the line Il'I-III of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view illustrating the biasing device 36 forming a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vsectional view of the bufling device D and pump P forming part of the apparatus shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2'.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views. v

Referring iirst to Fig. 1, the reference character A designates a railway switch comprising, as

usual,y two fixed rails I and Ia and twofmovable rails 2 and 2a. Therxed rails I and Iet areY laid on tie plates 3 and are secured to crossties .4 in.

the usual manner. The movable rails 2 and 2a are fastened together by a Vfront rod 5, a head rod 6, a bridle rod 1, and a tie rod 8, and may be with the head rod 5 through the medium of the usual switch basket I0. When the switch occupies'its normal position invwhich it is shown in Fig. l, the movable rail`2 engages the iixed rail I, and the movable rail 2a is spaced a slight distance from the xed rail I. When the switch is reversed, however, the movable rail 2a then engages the Xed rail Ia, and the movable rail` 2 is spaced from the Xed rail l. l

-Associated with the switch A is a switchl operating mechanism B'comprising a 4main casing l I which is bolted or spiked to the ties Il adjacent the outer side of the rail I, and an auxiliary casing I2.which` is secured to the left-hand end of the casing Il. The main casing II is provided with a removable cover I 3 while the auxiliary cas ing I2 is provided with a removable cover I4.

Extending downwardly through the main casing `II is a rotatable 'spindle' or switch actuating shaft IE, and attached to the lower end of this shaft is an adjustable crank I'I vwhich is pivotally connected with the previously described operating rod 9, the parts being so proportioned that rotation ofthe shaft I6 through 'an angle of approximately 90 will move the switch between its normal and reverse positions.

The lower portion of the shaft I6, that is the portion within the casing II, is made round, andl is journaled in a bearing I8 provided in the bottom. of the casing Il, and in a star block I9, which in turn, is journaled in a bearing 20 formed in the top` of the casing I I. shaft I6 above the top of the star block bearing, however, is made square and has a somewhat smaller cross sectional area than the lower portion of the shaft.

Secured to the square portion of the shaft I6 is a square sleeve 2l, and slidably mounted on this sleeve is an outer sleeve 22 which is provided with a square opening to receive the inner sleeve so that both sleeves and the shaft are constrained to rotate together.

When the outer sleeve 22 occupies its lowermost position on the inner sleeve, in which position it is shown in the drawing, a squared portion 23 formed on the lower end of the outer sleeve enters a squared recess or socket 24 formed in the upper end of the star block I9, and under these conditions, the outer sleeve, and-hence the shaft I6, is connected with the star block so that any rotation of the shaft will cause corresponding rotation of the star block. When, however, the outer sleeve 22 is moved to an upper position on the inner sleeve, the squared portion 23 on the lower end of the outer sleeve becomes The portion of theV disengaged from the socket 24 in the star block, and the two sleeves and the shaft are then free to rotate as a unit independently of the star block.

The outer sleeve 22 is arranged to be moved between its two extreme positions by means of a hand lever 21 which also serves as a means for rotating the switch actuating shaft I6 between its two extreme positions. This lever is bifurcated at one end, and the bifurcations therefore are disposed on opposite sides of a square porf tion formed at the upper end of the outer sleeve, and are pivoted at their free ends on a pin 28 mounted in a lug 29 formed on the inner sleeve 2|. Each bifurcation extends between a pair of lugs 30' which are secured to the associated side of the outer sleeve 22, only one pair of lugs being visible in the drawing. The parts are so proportioned that, when the lever 21 is rotated about the pin 28 to a depending position in which it is shown in the drawing, the outer sleeve 22 will be moved to its lowermost position on the in-ner sleeve, but that, when the lever is rotated about the pin 22 to a substantially horizontal position, the outer sleeve will then be moved to its'upper position on the inner sleeve. It follows that the switch actuating shaft I6 will be connected with or disconnected from the star block I9 according as the lever 21 occupies its depending or its horizontal position, 'and that, when the lever occupies its horizontal position, the shaft I6 may be rotated between its two extreme positions to move the switch points to their corresponding extreme positions by rotating the lever about the axis of the shaft, withoutV causing rotation of the star block.

When-the hand lever 21 occupies its depending position which position is`its normal position, it may be locked in this position by placinga pad.- lock 3| or other suitable locking device through a hole 32a formed in the outer end of a lug 32 which is fastened to the outersleeve 22 and which passes through a suitable slot 33 in the lever 21. A suitable signal, here-shown as a pair of varies 34, positioned with respect toA each other `in plan view, is fastened tothe upper end of the switch actuating shaft I6, and serves to accurately indicate at all times the position of the switch.

The star block I9 is constantly biased to the position in which it is shown in the drawings by means of two biasing devices or spring units 35 and 36 which-are disposed in the right-hand end of the casing I|. These biasing Vdevices are similar, and a description of one will therefore suffice for both. Referring particularly to the biasing device 36 shown in Fig. 4, this biasing device comprises a'cylindrical housing 31 which is provided at one end with a pair of spaced lugs 38 and at the other end with an end plate 39. Located within the housing 31 are two coil springs 40 and 4|. Interposed betweenthe left-hand end of the springs 40 and 4| and the end plate 39 is a member 42 having a centrally located hole 43.4

A similar member 44 `provided with a centrally located hole 45 is interposed between the other end of the springs 40 and 4| and the right-hand end of the housing 31. A rod 46 passes through the holes 43 and 45 in members 42 and 44 and also passes through a hole 41 in end plate 39. The upset end 48 of rod 46 engages the outer surface of the member 44. Threaded on rod 46 is a sleeve 49 which enters the hole 41 in the end plate 39 and bears against the outer surface of member 42. The end plate 39 is screwed into or out of the casing 31 until the springs 40 and 4| are under the desired pressure, and the end plate is then locked in its adjusted position by a bolt 50. Sleeve 5| is then screwed onto rod 46 until it engages the member 42 when the upset end 48 of the rod is tight against the member 44. Sleeve 5| is-then locked in its adjusted position by means of the nut 52. With the biasing device constructed in this manner, it will be apparent that the two springs 4|) and 4| both act to bias the rod 46 to the position shown, and that movement of the rod in either direction will act to compress these springs beyond their initial compression.

The right-hand end of the biasing device 36 is pivotally attached to the casing by means of a pin 53 which passes through aligned apertures in the lug 38, and the right-hand end of the biasing device 35 is similarly attached to the casing by means of a pin 54. The free end of the rod`46 of each of the biasing devices 35 and 35 is operatively connected with the star block I9 by means of a pin 55 which passes through an eye 56 adjustably screwed onto the rod, and through alignedapertures in verticallyl spaced lugs 51 provided on the star block. The eyes 56 are so adjusted that both biasing devices will act to bias the star block I9 to the position in which it is shown fri-the drawings, and the parts are so proportioned that, when the star block occupies the position shown and the switch is connected with the' star block, the switch will be yieldably urged to which ever extreme position it then occupies. The parts are further so proportioned that, if the star block is rotated away from the `position shown in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig; 2, through'an angle corresponding tothe switch stroke,`the force exerted on the star block 'by the biasing device 35 will continue to increase as the star block approaches its clockwise extreme position, but the biasing device 36 will function as a toggle, and will act to oppose the movementof the star block until the stai' block has been rotated halfway to its clockwise extreme position, whereupon the biasing device 36 will then act to assist the further movement of the star block. The parts are still further so proportioned that, if the star block is rotated away from the position shown in a counterblockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, through an angle corresponding to the switch stroke, the force exerted on the star block by the biasing device 36 will continue to increase as the star block approaches its counterclockwise extreme position, but the biasing device 35 4will function as a toggle and will act to oppose the movement of the star block until the star block has been rotated halfway to its counterclockwise extreme position, whereupon this latter biasing device will then act to assist the movement of the star block. It will be obvious that the force exerted by the biasing device 35 tending to restore the star block to the normal position; shown when the stai' block has been rotated to its counterclockwise extreme position, as viewed in Fig. 2, will exceed the opposing force exerted by the biasing device 36, and that the force exerted by the biasing device 36 tending to restorethe star block to the position shown when the star block has been rotated to its counterclockwis'e extreme position, as viewed in Fig. 2i, will exceed the opposing force vexerted by the biasing device 35, and it follows, therefore, that, when the star block has been rotated away from the position shown in either direction, as soon as the force which caused integral frustaconical 'hoodia which completely therotati'nof' the star block is're'm'ved, the `biasing' devices will act to restore the starblock tothe position'shown. Y i

'/Reciprocably mounted' in the bott om of the casing (Il is alckingd'evice't'which as here shown comprises twospaced'cros's members 68a and Bb connected tog-ether by means of aI paii -of'spaced studfbolts 60'3 and 60d. A third cross member (if) is adjustably secured to the threaded left-hand end s'of tliestu'd bolts 58C' and 50d by means| of nuts Bf and this latter member is providedon its left-hand side with an integral rectangular locking plunger, 88g. The member lilla is provided with a centrally located hole 60h. The locking 'plunger 50g extends into the casing l2 and is adapted tocooperate with a lock rod L which is `slidably mounted in the casing I2 at rightangles to the locking plunger. The lock rod is of standard construction and comprises two longitudinally adjustable bars $3 and 54 attached at one end to the front rod 5 of the switch A, and'v'provided withl two registering notches 55 ,so disposed that these notches will align with the locking plunger 60g whenand only when the Switch occupies its normal extreme position which itisshown in the drawings.

A The locking device 58 is arranged' tobe moved in a manner which will be described hereinafter, between aleit-hand extremeposition in which thelockingV plunger 50@ is Within thevvnotcl'es 85 in the lock `rod L, and a right-hand extreme position .inwhich the locking plunger 60 is- With#- drawn fromthe notches 65, and it will be apparent that, when the locking device is moved to theposition in'which the locking plunger is within'the notches, the switch willi be positively locked in its normal extreme position, but that, when the locking device is moved to the position in which the llocking plunger'is withdrawn from the notches in the lock rod, the switch will then be unlocked.

The bolt members iitlcand 50dv of the locking device 58 are slidably mounted, intermediate their ends in suitable lugs/65 and vS'Lrespectively, which project .upwardly fromv the bottom of the main casing l l, and surrounding each bolt between the cross member 581 and the associated lug 65 or 6l. isi-.a partlycompressed coil spring 88 which constantly biases the locking device 58 to its lefthand extreme position.

A crank t8'Clv is secured to a yshaft 18 mounted in apair of spaced lugs H projecting from the side of the-'casing I I, and this crank extends downwardly and is provi'ded'at its lower end with a rounded portion 89b which cooperates withl a lateral extension 601'` provided on the cross memberv 88, in a manner which'will be described hereina'fter. A second crank 89@ is also secured to the shaft "i8, and this latter crank extends toward the right and is` pivotally connected at its free end by means of a pin 'l2 with the lower end of a vertical connecting rod 14. Y

The connecting rod 'Hl is shaped as shown, and comprises an integral `oiiset portion 'Ma which is rectangular in cross section. This offset portion extends upwardly withy a sliding t' through a rectangular guideway 'I5 formed in the top wall of the casing Il, and is provided at its upper 'end with a lateral extension 14h which overlies and co-operates l with, an annular flange 'Il formed on the sliding sleeve 22 directly above the squared portion 23. A two-piece collar 18 is boltedto the sliding sleeve 22 some distance above Ithe annular flange 'l1 and lateral extension 14h,

and extending "downwardly `from this collar is f an encloses the upper part of the oilset portion 14a of the connecting rod 14 and the annular flange 11, thus' protecting these parts from dirt, moisture, etc.

The lower end 145 of the offset portion 14a of the connecting rod 14 overlies and cooperates with a cam member 8l) formed integrally with the star block i9. This cam member has a semicircular periphery and its upper surface curves downwardly from each end toward the center, as' shown inY Fig, 2. Only one-half of this cam member is' visible in Fig. 2 because the other half is directly back of the half shown, but the half which is not visible is similar to the half which is visible. l

The parts are so proportioned that, when the Asliding sleeve 22 occupies its lowermost position, and the star block I9 occupies the position to which it is biased by the biasing devices 35 and 38, as shown in the drawings, the connecting rod 'I4 will move by gravity to the position in which! it is shown in the drawings, which position I shall hereinafter refer to asI its loWermo-st position. r'I he parts are further so proportioned that, when the connecting rod 14 occupies its lowermost position, the underside of the lateral extension Illb of the connecting rod will engage the upper side of the annular ilange 71, the lower end 14 of the offset portion 'lllEl will engage the upper face of the cam member 80 at the lowest point of the cani face, and the crank 59a will be rotated to a position in which the rounded portion 69h would engage the oiset portion 681 of the cross member 68` of the locking device 68 if the locking device were then moved to its extreme left-hand position by the biasing spring 68.

'Ihe locking device 60, in addition to being operatively connected with the sliding sleeve 22 and the star block I9 in the manner just described, is also operatively connected with the tie rod 8 by means' of linkage which I shall now describe. i.

, As here shown, this linkagey includes a plunger bolt 8l (see Figs. l andl 2) which extends with some clearance through the hole 58h in the cross member 68a of the locking device B0, and the head of which bolt cooperates with the left-hand side of the cross member 50a. The threaded right-hand end of the plunger bolt 8l is adjustably connected .by means of a turnbuckle 82 with one end of a link 83, the other end of which link is pivot'ally connected with the long arm 84a of a bell crank lever 84. The bell crank lever 84 ispivotally supported in a crank stand 85, and has its short arm 84h pivotally connected with one end of an operating rod 85. The other end of the operating rod 85 is connected with the previously described tie rod 8 by means of a standard switch basket 81.

'Ihe tie rod 8 may be located at any suitable location, but will be preferably located approximately half-way between the heel and the point of the switch. The base 88 of the crank stand 85 is secured both to a gauge plate 89 and to the bed plate I5 upon which the mechanism B is mounted, and it will be apparent, therefore, that any loss of adjustment between the parts' due to creepage of the ties is prevented. The linkage is so adjusted that, when the switch occupies its normal extreme position, the head of the plunger bolt 8| will engage the end member 68a when the locking plunger has been moved to the desired locking position within the notches 65 in the lock rod L.

If desired, a suitable circuit controller may be provided in the casing |2 to indicate when the locking plunger occupies its proper locking position. This circuit controller forms no part of my present invention, and is not, therefore, shown in the drawings. This circuit controller may, however, be similar to that shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,989,- 128, granted to me on January 29, 1935.

The apparatus also includes a uid pressure device D and a pump P, the function of which device and which pump will be made clear presently. The device D and pump P are shown in detail in Fig. 5, and as there illustrated, the device D comprises a cylinder 9| formed in a suitable casing 90. The cylinder 9| is closed at its left-hand end by a cylinder head 92, and extending into the cylinder through a stuffing box 93 and an opening 94 provided in the cylinder head is a piston rod 95, the inner end of which is attached by means of a nut 96 to a reciprocable piston 91. The right-hand side of the piston 91 is provided with an annular flange 98 which forms a cylindrical recess 99, and secured to the flange 98 is a flexible diaphragm |00. The diaphragm is biased to an outward position by a compressed coil spring |0|, and constitutes with the spring a pressure accumulator for maintaining a constant pressure on the piston 91 under certain conditions which will be pointed out hereinafter.

Located in the casing 90 above the cylinder 9| is a reservoir |04 which is constantly connected with the cylinder 9| at the left-hand end of the cylinder by a port |05. The reservoir is also connected with the cylinder 9| on the righthand side of the piston by means of a check valve |06, passageways |01 and |21, and a check valve |08, the check valves being so arranged that fluid can flow from the reservoir to the cylinder, but that the flow of fluid from the cylinder to the reservoir is prevented. The reservoir is further connected with the cylinder 9| on the right-hand side of the piston through a port |09, a regulating valve ||0, and a strainer The reservoir and cylinder are both intended to be filled with a suitable fluid such as oil, and in order to permit the insertion of fluid into the reservoir and cylinder, the reservoir wall is provided with a hole |2 which is normally closed by a screw plug ||3.

The regulating valve |0 may have any desired construction, and may, for example, be similar to the valve 41 shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,830,803, granted to W. C. McWhirter, on November 10, 1931, for Railway switch operating apparatus. Since this valve is similar to that shown in the said McWhirter patent, it is believed to be sufilcient for purposes of the present disclosure to state that this valve comprises a hollow valve body provided with a plurality of restricted orices of different sizes which extend through its side in radial spaced relation and any one of which may be brought into registration with the port |09 by rotating the valve body about its axis to different positions.

With the fluid pressure device constructed in the manner just described, it will be apparent that, if the piston 91 is moved toward the left, the fluid on the left-hand side of the piston will flow freely into reservoir |04 through the port |05, and from the reservoir |04 through the check valve |06, passageways |01 and |21, and check valve |08 into the cylinder 9| on the righthand side of the piston, but that, if the piston ls Vmoved in the opposite direction, the check valve |08 will seat and the fluid on the right-hand side of piston 91 will then be constrained toy flow through the strainer regulating valve ||0, and port |09 into the reservoir |04, thus limiting the rate of movement of the piston to the rate at which fluid can flow through the regulating valve. This rate can, of course, be varied by changing the setting of the regulating valve.

The pump P comprises av vertically disposed cylinder formed in a cylindrical casing ||6 secured to the casing 90 by means of a web ||1 formed integrally with the two casings. The upper end of the cylinder ||5 is closed by a screw plug 8, and extending into the lower end of the cylinder through a packing gland ||9 is an elongated cup-shaped plunger |20. 'I'he plunger |20 is adapted to be at times reciprocated, and to this end the plunger is constantly biased into engagement with an operating lever |2| (see Fig. 3) by means of a compressed coil spring |22 interposed between the screw plug and the lower end of the plunger. The cylinder on the upper side of the plunger is constanty connected with the port |01 by a passageway |23, and it will be seen, therefore, that downward movement of the plunger will suck oil from the reservoir |04 into the cylinder ||5 through the check valve |06 and the passageways |01 and |23, whereas upward movement of the piston |20 will force the fluid that was previously sucked into the cylinder ||5 through the passageways |23 and |21 and the port |08 into the cylinder 9| on the right-hand side of the piston 91. It follows, therefore, that reciprocating action of the plunger will pump oil out of the reservoir |04 and into the cylinder 9| of the fluid pressure device D on the righthand side of the piston 91. A recess |35 is formed around the lower end of the plunger |20 above the packing gland ||9, and this recess is connected by means of a passageway |24 with the port |09, whereby any fluid that leaks past the piston will be returned to the reservoir.

The pump P is pivotally mounted in a suitable bearing |25 secured to the one end wall of the casing and serves to pivotally attach the device D to the casing, whereas the piston rod 95 is pivotally attached to the star block I9 by means of an eye |26 and the pin 55. It will be seen, therefore, that the uid pressure device will permit free rotation of the star block in either direction away from the position shown, but that rotation of the star block by the biasing devices 35 and 36 will be retarded by the fluid pressure device.

'Ihe lever |2| with which the plunger |20 cooperates is bifurcated at the end opposite to the plunger, as best seen in Fig. 6, and is pivotally attached to the casing by means of a pin |30 mounted in a pair of spaced upstanding lugs |3| provided on the bottom wall of the casing. A roller |32 is secured to the lever between the bifurcations adjacent their joined ends by means of a pin |33, and this roller cooperates with a cam |34 secured to the cross member 60 of the previously described locking device 60. The lefthand end of the cam 34 is formed with an inclined cam face |349, and the parts are so proportioned that, when the locking plunger 60 occupies its locking position in which it is shown in the drawings, the roller will engage the cam at its fiat upper surface, but that, when the locking device 60 occupies its unlocking position, the cam will then be out of engagement with the roller.

the pump plunger occupies its lower extreme position.

The operation of the apparatus as a whole is as follows: As shown in the drawing, the movable rails ofthe switch are in their normal extreme positions, and the hand lever 21 is locked in its depending position by means of padlock 3|. Under these conditions, the outer sleeve 22 is held in its lowermost position on the inner. sleeve 2|, and the star block I9 is accordingly connected with the switch actuatingA shaft I6 so that the biasing devices 35 and 36 are eiective to hold the movable rails of the switch in their normal positions. Furthermore, .under these conditions, the connecting rod 14 is held by gravity in its lowermost position, and the locking device 60 is held in its locking poistion by the biasing springs 68. As was previously pointed out, when the locking device 66 occupies its locking poistion, the movable rails of the switch are locked in their normal positions, and the plunger of the pump P occupies its lowermost extreme position.

I shall now assume that it is desired to reverse the switch A. To do this, the padlock 3| is first removed from the hole 32a in the lug 32 to unlock the hand lever 21, and the hand lever 21 is then raised to its horizontal position. This preliminary movement of the hand lever raises the sliding sleeve 22 from its lowermost position in which it is shown in the drawings to its uppermost position, and as was previously described, when the sliding sleeve is'moved to its uppermost position, the squared portion 23 on the lower end of this sleeve becomes disengaged from the socket 213 in the upper end of the star block I9, thus disconnecting the star block, and hence the biasing devices 35-and 36 and the fluid pressure device D from the switch actuating shaft, so that the switch actuating shaft is then free to rotate without any opposition from the biasing and bung devices. Furthermore, when the sliding sleeve 22 is moved to its upper position, the annular flange 'I on .the lower end of this sleeve cooperates with the lateral extension 1lib on the connecting rod 14, to move the connecting rod Tte-its uppermost position, and this movement of the connecting rod, in turn, acts through the cranks 69c and 69a, to move the locking device 60 from its normal locking position in which it is shown in the drawings to a position in which the locking plunger 66g is completely withdrawn from the notches 65 in the lock rod L, thus unlocking the switch, and at the same time permitting the pump operating lever |2I to rotate to its lowermost position. The movement of the pump operating lever under these conditions, however, has no effecton` the remainder of the switch operating apparatus, otherthan to permit the pump plunger to descend under the bias of the spring |20 to itslowermost extreme position. The biasing and bufling devices now being disconnected from the switch actuating shaft and the switch being unlockedthe hand lever isl next rotated in thehorizontalplane which it then occupies,

through an angle of approximately 90* in a counterclockwise direction. This intermediate movement of the hand lever rotates the switch actuatingshaft I6 to the extreme position opposite to that in which it is shown in the drawing, thereby reversing the movable rails of the switch in the manner previously described. As the movable rails move to their reverse positions, the linkage ywhich connects the locking device 60 with the tie rod 8 is actuated in such manner that the plunger bolt 8| is moved toward the right, and as soon as the plunger bolt has` moved as far as the locking device was previously moved by the crank, the plunger bolt engages the end member 6|)al of the locking device 60, and during the balance of the movement of the plunger bolt, the locking device will be moved with the plunger bolt, so that, when the switch reaches its full reverse position, the locking device -will be moved to -itsV extreme right-hand position. The switch points now being yfully reversed, the hand lever 21 is next restored to its depending position. This final movement of the hand lever, of course, restores the sliding sleeve 22 to its lowermost position, thus reconnecting the star block I9 with the switch actuating shaft I6, and at the same time permitting the connecting rod 14 to return by gravity to its lowermost position. After the hand lever has been restored to its depending position, it may, if desired, be relocked in this position by again inserting the padlock 3| in the hole 32a in the lug 32.

If, when the switch has been -moved to its reverse position in the manner just described, it is desired to restore the switch to its normal position, the hand lever 21 is rst raised to its horizontal position, and is then rotated in a clockwise direction through an angle of 90 as viewed in Fig. 1, and is finally restored to its depending position and relocked in this position. The operation of the vvarious parts of the apparatus under these conditions is just thereverse of that described uabove and will be readily understood from the foregoing description and from an inspection of the drawings without further description. e

A,I shall now assume that the parts are in their normal positions, as shown in the drawings, and that a train trails the switch; As the leading wheels of the trainroll along the fixed rail I, and the movable rail 2a, the movable rails 2 and 2EL are force'dover laterally, but before a sufficient force is developed at the points of these rails to overcome the vopposing force of the biasing devices 35 and, 36 and cause the point of the movable rail 2 to move out of engagement with the fixed rail I, the movable rails, being somewhat resilient, become bent, sothat with the usual standard split switch, the `tie rod 8 will be moved upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1, three-quarters of-an inch or more. This movement of the tie rod 8 acting through the switch basket 81, operating rod k86,l bell crank lever 84, link 83, and plunger bolt 8| moves the locking device 6|) in opposition to the bias of the springs 68, a suflicient amount to completely withdraw the locking plunger 6I]g from engagement with the notches 65 in the lock rod L, thus unlocking the switch. As a result, when the leading wheels of the train have reached the position in which a suflicient force is developed at the points of the movable rails to cause the point of the movable rail 2 to move out of engagement with the xed rail I, the 1 movable rails will be unlocked, and

the ,rails willtherefore be forced away from their normal positions by the wheels of the train in exactly the same manner as they would be if no point lock were provided. The movement of the movable rails away from their normal posi` tions acts through the operating rod 9 and crank i1 to rotate the shaft |6 in a counterclockwise direction, and this rotation of the shaft 6, in turn, rotates the associated sleeves 2| and 22 and the star block 9 in the same direction. The rotation of the star block |9 actuates the biasing devices 35 and 36 in the manner previously described, so that the biasing device 36 now tends to constantly return the movable rails to their normal position, and the biasing device 35 exerts a force on the movable rails which opposes that due to the biasing device 36 thereby decreasing the total force tending to return the movable rails to their normal positions. The rotation of the star block I9 also actuates the fluid pressure device D which, as was previously pointed out, permits free and unrestricted rotation of the star block in a direction to compress the springs of the biasing devices but acts to retard movement of the star block by the biasing devices.

. The springs 68 of the locking device 6D are so proportioned that, as the wheels of the train continue to trail the switch, they will act, through the linkage which connects the biasing device with the tie rod 8, and the tie rod 8, to exert a sufficient force on the movable rail 2a to bow or spring this movable rail to less than wheel gauge width between the passage of successive car trucks, and it will be seen, therefore, that, as successive car trucks pass the tie rod 8, they will cause the locking device 60 to oscillate back and forth. The parts are so proportioned that this back and forth oscillation of the locking device will cause the lever |2| to oscillate between its two extreme positions, and will thus actuate the pump P, it being noted that the upward stroke of the pump plunger is caused by the force exerted by the biasing springs 68, and notby the displacement of the point rail to wheel gauge position. The oscillating movement of the pump `will pump fluid out of the reservoir |04, and into cylinder 9| of the fluid pressure device D on the right-hand side of the piston 91, and will thus build up in the cylinder 9| on the righthand side of the piston a force which forces the switch points to their fully trailed positions and holds them there until after the train has completely passed the switch. It should be noted that the pressure accumulator IDU in the piston 93 acts to maintain a constant pressure in the .cylinder 9| between the successive strokes of the pump. It should also be noted that, since the upward stroke of the pump plunger is due to the bias of the springs 68, rather than to the movement of the `point rail to wheel gauge position as the wheels move past the tie rod 8, after the points have been completely reversed and the pump plunger is unable to move upwardly any further, no additional load is placed upon the flanges of the wheels, but instead the movable rail 2a is held in its full gauge position. It will be seen, therefore, that the fluid pressure device D will not oppose the movement of the movable rails away from their normal positions, but on the contrary will act to force the movable rails to their reverse positions and hold them there during the entire time the train is trailing the switch. The rotation of the star block I9 caused by the displacement of the movable rails from their normal positions further causes the cam 80 to rotateancL-due to the previously described shape of this cam, it will be apparent that this rotation of the cam will force the connecting rod 'I4 upwardly from its normal position. The parts are so proportioned that this upward movement of the connecting rod will rotate the crank 69a in a counterclockwise direction to a position in which, if the locking device were not already moved to an unlocking position by the linkage which connects the locking device with the tie rod 8, the bell crank lever would move the locking device to a position in which the locking plunger 6l!g of the locking device would be just clear of the notches 65 in the lock rod L. However, since the locking device has already been moved to an unlocking position, there is no oontact between the bell crank lever and the locking device under these conditions. After the train has completely passed the switch, the displacing force of the wheels will, of course, be removed and the leakage of oil through the regulating valve IIU will then permit the plunger |29 to slowly move to its upper position and the piston 91 of the bufng device to move to its right-hand position, thus permitting the biasing devices to slowly return the movable rails to the positions which they occupied before the train started to trail the switch. During the return movement of the movable rails, the star block I9 will, of course, slowly return to the position in which it is shown in the drawing, thus permitting the connecting rod 'I4 to return by gravity to its lowermost position. Furthermore, during the return movement of the movable rails, the linkage which connects the locking device 60 with the tie rod 8 will permit the biasing spring 68 to slowly return the locking device toward its locking position, and since there is no deflection of the movable rails under these conditions, the locking plunger 69g will be moved into engagement with the side of the lock rod L before the movable rails have reached their full normal position in which the lock rod is in the proper position for the notches 65 therein to receive the locking plunger. As a result, after the locking plunger has once moved into engagement with the side of the lock rod, the locking plunger will slide along the side of the lock rod until the notches 65 in the lock rod move into alignment with the locking plunger, at which time the energy stored in the compressed springs 68 will force the locking plunger to its normal locking position, thus restoring the switch to its normal locked condition.

The switch is not intended ,to be locked when it is moved to its reverse position by the switch operating mechanism B, but it should be particularly pointed out, that the apparatus of the switch operating mechanism is symmetrical about the center line which is parallel to the track rails and, as a result, the movement can be arranged to permit the switch to be locked in the reverse position from that shown in the drawings and trailed when it occupies this posi tion merely by changing the positions of the rods which connect the operating mechanism with the switch. The operation of the apparatus when the rods which connect the mechanism with the switch are changed, and a train trails the switch, will be similar to that previously described and will therefore be understood from the foregoing description and from an inspection of the drawings without further detailed description.

It should also be ponted out that, due to the fact that the biasing devices are arranged in the manner previously described, the force which is aieavco-l 7l exerted on the points tendingto restore them to their normal positions when a train trails the switch gradually decreases with the displacement of the points from their normal positions and as a result the force which must be exerted on the points by the iiuid pressure device D to force them to and hold them in theirreverse positions While a train is trailing the switch will be relatively small. c c y 10*- It should further be pointed out that, withthe apparatus constructed in the manner described, since the points are forced to their full reverse positions while a train is trailing the switch, the wear on the points will be very little greater .than the wear on the points of switches whichy are not intended to be trailed.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and 20,?modications may be made therein within the y"scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

25., 1. In combination, a switch of the type adapted to be trailed, means for normally biasing said switch to one extreme position, a fluid pressure device operatively connected with said switch and provided with means for controlling the rate of Amovement of said switch by said biasing means, "and means actuated by a train trailing said switch when said switch occupies its one extreme position for supplying fluid pressure to said uid pressure device to cause said uid pressure de- .vice to force said switch to its other extreme position 2. In combination, a switch of the type adapted to be trailed, means for normally biasing said switch to one extreme position, a fluid pressure k device operatively connected with said switch and provided with means for controlling the rate of movement of said switch by said biasing means, and means. actuated by a train trailing said switch when said switch occupies its one rextreme position for supplying fluid pressure to 'said uid pressure device to cause said uid pressure device to force said switch to and hold it in its other extreme position until after the trailing train has passed said switch. 3. In combination, a switch of the type adapted 'to be trailed, means for normally biasing said switch to one extreme position, a fluid pressure device operatively connected with said switch and provided with means for controlling the rate of movement of said switch by said biasing means, and means connected with said switch and actuated by the flexure of one of the movable rails of said switch while a train is trailing the switch for supplying fluid pressure to said `fluid pressure device to cause said fluid pressure device to force said switch to, and hold it in, its other extreme position until after the trailing train has passed said switch.

4. In combination, a switch of the type adapted @5v-to be trailed, means for normally biasing said "switch to one extreme position, a fluid pressure device operatively connected with said switch and provided with means for controlling the rate of movement of said switch by said biasing means,

70y and a fluid pressure pump actuated by the lateral lexure of the movable rails of said switch caused by a train trailing said switch when said switch occupies said one extreme position and eiective to supply fluid pressure to said iiuid pressure 75 device to cause said fluid pressure device to force said switch to, and hold it in, its other extreme position until after the trailing train has passed said switch.

5. In combination, a railway switch of the type adapted to be trailed, means for normally bias- 5 ing said switch to one extreme position, a fluid pressure device operatively connected with said switch and effective when said switch is moved to its other extreme position by a trailing train to retard the return movement of said switch to said 10 i one extreme position by said biasing means, and means connected with said switch and responsive to movement of the movable switch rails caused by a train trailing said switch for supplying uid pressure to said fluid pressure device to hold said 15 switch in said other extreme position until after the trailing train has passed said switch.

6. In combination, a railway switch of the type adapted to be trailed, means connected with the movable rails of said switch adjacent their points 20` for biasing said switch to a normal extreme position, linkage connected with the movable rails of said switch at a point in rear of the point of connection of said biasing means and biased to one position in such manner that the movable 25; rails will be sprung to less than wheel gauge width at the point of connection of said linkage with the rails when the points of the rails are forced to their reverse positions by a force applied to the movable rails adjacent their points, whereby the wheels of a train trailing said switch from its normal position will cause an oscillating motion of said linkage, a uid pressure pump actuated by the oscillating motion of said linkage, and a fluid pressure motor connected with 35;; the movable rails of said switch and supplied with uid pressure by said pump and eifective when supplied with uid pressure for forcing the movable rails to their reverse positions.

'7. In combination, a railway switch of the type 40 adapted to be trailed, means connected with the movable rails of said switch adjacent their points for biasing said switch to a normal extreme position, linkage connected with the movable rails of sai-d switch at a point in rear of the point of 45v connection of said biasing means and biased to one position in such manner that the movable rails will be sprung to less than wheel gauge width at the point of connection of said linkage with the rails when the points of the rails are 50t Y forced to their reverse positions by a force applied to the movable rails adjacent their points, whereby the wheels of a train trailing said switchA from its normal position will cause an oscillating motion of said linkage, a fluid pressure pump 555i actuated by the oscillating motion of said linkage, a iiuid pressure motor connected with the movable rails of sai-d switch and supplied with fluid pressure by said pump and effective when supplied with fluid pressure for forcing the mov- 60 able rails to their reverse positions, means for locking said switch in its normal extreme position, and means actuated by Vsaid linkage for actuating said locking means to unlock said switch when a train trails said switch. v

8. In combination, a spring switch, a tie rod connecting the movable rails of the switch at a point between the heel and the point of the switch, means for rigidly locking the movable rails of the switch in one extreme position, means y connected with and actuated by said tie rod for unlocking the movable rails when a train trails the switch, a fluid pressure motor connected with the movable rails, and means connected with and actuated by lsaid tie rod for supplyingV Afluid pres- 75.15;

sure to said fluid pressure motor when a train trails the switch to force the movable rails to,

and hold them in, their other extreme position until after the trailing train has passed the switch.

9. In combination, a railway switch, means for biasing said switch to one extreme position and for normally locking it in said one extreme position, linkage connected with the movable rails of said switch at a point between the heel and the point of the switch for unlocking said switch when a train trails the switch, and means actuated by said linkage for forcing said switch to its other extreme position in opposition to the bias of said biasing means when a train trails the switch.

10. In combination, a railway switch, means for biasing said switch to one extreme position, means for rigidly locking said switch in one extreme position, and means connected with one of the movable rails of said switch at a point between the heel and the point of said switch and responsive to the lateral bending of the rail which takes place when a train trails said switch lfor unlocking said switch and for subsequently applying to the points of the movable rails a force which opposes and exceeds that due to said biasing means until after the trailing train has passed said switch.

11. In combination, a railway switch of the type adapted to be trailed, operating mechanism for moving said switch between its two extreme positions including biasing means for yieldably urging said switch to the extreme position to `which it is moved, a fluid pressure device operatively connected with said switch and effective to retard movement of said switch by said biasing means, and means actuated by a train trailing said switch for supplying fluid pressure to said fluid pressure device to cause said iiui-d pressure device to force said switch to, and hold it in, the extreme position toward which it is moved by the trailing train until after the train has passed the switch.

12. In combination, a switch of the type adapted to be trailed, means for normally biasing said switch to one extreme position, locking means biased to a locking position and effective when in its locking position for locking said switch in said one extreme position, linkage connecting said locking means with the movable rails of said switch and effective when a train starts to trail said switch for actuating said lock mechanism to unlock said switch, a fluid pressure device operatively connected with said switch for retarding movement of said switch by said biasing means, and means actuated by said linkage when a train trails said switch for supplying fluid pressure to said fluid pressure device to cause said device to force said switch to, and hold it in, its other extreme position until after the train has passed said switch,

13. In combination, a railway switch of the type adapted to be trailed, means for biasing the movable rails of said switch to one extreme position in such manner that when the movable rails are forced away from said one extreme position by a trailing train the biasing force will decrease with the displacement of the points, a fluid pressure device connected with the movable rails of said switch adjacent their points, linkage connected with the movable rails at a point intermediate the heel and the point of the rails and biased to one position in such manner that said linkage exerts on said rails a force which aids that due tosaid biasing means in biasing said switch to one extreme position, whereby when a train trails said switch said linkage will oscillate, and a iiuid pressure pump actuated by the oscillation of said linkage and effective for supplying fluid pressure. to said fluid pressure device to force the points of the movable rails to their other extreme positions while a train is trailing the switch.

14. In combination, a switch of the type adapted to be trailed, means for normally biasing said switch to one extreme position, linkage connected with the movable rails of said switch between the heel and the point of the switch and biased to one position in such manner that when a train trails said switch said linkage will oscillate, a cam oscillated by said linkage, a lever oscillated b-y said cam, a` pumpactuated by the oscillation of said lever, and a fluid pressure motor connected with the movable rails and supplied with duid pressure by said pump for exerting on the movable rails a force which opposes and exceeds that due to saidbiasingr means when a train trails the switch.

15. In combination, a railway switch, a switch operating mechanism comprising a casing, a switch actuating shaft journaled in said casing and operatively connected with said switch, a star block in said casing biased to one position, manually operable means for moving said shaft between two extreme positions corresponding to the extreme position of said switch and for connecting said star block with said shaft in either extreme position of the shaft to bias said switch to the extreme position which it then occupies, a iiuid pressure device in said casing connected with said star block and permitting free movement of said star block away from said one position but acting to retard movement of said star block toward said one extreme position, locking means in said casing biased tc a locking position and eiiective when in its locking position for locking said switch in one extreme position, linkage connected with said locking means and with the movable rails of said switch intermediate the heel and the point of the switch and effective when a train trails the switch for unlocking the. switch, and a fluid pressure pump in said casing actuated by said linkage when a train trails said switch and effective to supply fluid pressure to said motor to cause said motor to exert a force on said star block which opposes and exceeds that due to said biasing means.

16. In combination, a switch of the type adapted to be trailed, operating mechanism 'for moving said switch between its two extreme positions including spring means for biasing said switch to whichever extreme position it is moved by said mechanism, a cylinder iilled with fluid and containing a reciprocable piston, a fluid pressure pump connected with said cylinder and eiectivc when operated for pumping fluid from one end of said cylinder to the other, means for operatively connecting said piston with said switch in such manner that when a train trails said switch said piston will be moved toward said one end of said cylinder, and means actuated by a train trailing said switch for actuating said pump.

17. In combination, a switch of the type adapted to be trailed, means for normally biasing said switch to one extreme position, a fluid pressure device including a cylinder filled with fluid and containing a reciprocable piston, a pump connected with said cylinder and effective when operated for pumping fluid from one end of said cylinder to the other, means for operatively connecting said fluid pressure device with said switch in such manner that movement of said switch toward said other extreme position by a trailing train will move. said piston toward said one end of said cylinder, and means actuated by a train trailing said switch for actuating said pump.

18. In combination, a switch of the type adapted to be trailed, means for normally biasing said switch to one extreme position, a fluid pressure device including a cylinder filled with fluid and containing a reciprocable piston, a pump connected with said cylinder and effective when operated for pumping fluid from one end of said cylinder to the other, means for operatively connecting said fluid pressure device with said switch in such manner that movement of said switch toward said other extreme position by a trailing train will move said piston toward said one end of said cylinder, and means responsive to the lateral flexure of the movable rails of said switch caused by a train trailing said switch for actuating said pump.

19. In combination, a switch of the typeadap-ted to be trailed, operating mechanism for moving said switch between its two extreme positions including spring means for biasing said switch to whichever extreme position it is moved by said mechanism, a cylinder filled with fluid and containing a reciprocable piston, a iiuid pressure pump connected with said cylinder and effective when operated for pumping fluid from one end of said cylinder to the other, means for permitting free relative movement of said piston toward said one end of said cylinder and for retarding movement of said piston toward said other end of said cylinder, means for operatively connecting said piston with said switch in such manner thatfwhen a train trails said switch said piston will be moved toward said one end of said cylinder, and means actuated by a train trailing said switch for actuating said pump.

20. In combination, a switch of the type adapted to be trailed, means for normally biasing said switch to one extreme position, a fluid pressure device including a cylinder filled with fluid and containing a reciprocable piston, a pump connected with said cylinder and effective when operated for pumping fluid from one end of said cylinder to the other, means for permitting free relative movement of said piston toward said one end of said cylinder and for retarding movement of said piston toward said other end of said cylinder, means for operatively connecting said fluid pressure device with said switch in such manner that movement of said switch toward said other extreme position by a trailing train will move said piston toward said one end of said cylinder, and means responsive to the lateral fiexure of the movable rails of said switch caused by a train trailing said switch for actuating said pump.

21. In combination, a switch of the type adapted to be trailed, means for normally biasing said switch to one extreme position, a fluid pressure device including a cylinder filled with fluid and containing a reciprocable piston, a pump connected with said cylinder and effective when operated for pumping fluid out of one end of said cylinder into the other end, means connected with said other end of said cylinder for storing up pressure in said other end of said cylinder, means for operatively connecting said fluid pressure device with said switch in such manner that movement of said switch toward said other extreme position by a trailing train will move said piston toward said one end of said cylinder, and means actuated by a train trailing said switch for actuating said pump.

22. In combination, a switch of the type adapted to be trailed, means for normally biasing said switch to one extreme position, a iiuid pressure device including a cylinder filled with fluid and containing a reciprocable piston, a pump connected with said cylinder and effective when operated for pumping fluid out of one end of said cylinder into the other end, means for permitting iiuid to iiow freely from one end of said cylinder to the other but for restricting the flow of fluid from said other end to said one end, means connected with said other end of said cylinder for storing up pressure in said other end of said cylinder, means for operatively connecting said fluid pressure device with said switch in such manner that movement of said switch toward said other extreme position by a trailing train will move said piston toward said one end of said cylinder, and means actuated by a train trailing said switch for actuating said pump.

23. In combination, a switch of the type adapted to be trailed, means for normally biasing said switch to one extreme position, a fluid pressure device including a cylinder filled with fluid and containing a reciprocable piston, a pump connected with said cylinder and effective when operated for pumping fluid out of one end of said cylinder into the other end, a recess formed in said piston on the side adjacent said other end of said cylinder and closed by a flexible diaphragm biased to an outer position, means for operatively connecting said fluid pressure device with said switch in such manner that movement of said switch toward said other extreme position by a trailing train will move said piston toward said one end of said cylinder, and means actuated by a train trailing said switch for actuating said pump.

HERBERT L. BONE. 

